Harry the Minstrel

The Minstrel Boy

"The Minstrel Boy" is an Irish patriotic song written by Thomas Moore (1779-1852) who set it to the melody of The Moreen, an old Irishair. It is widely believed that Moore composed the song in remembrance of a number of his friends, whom he met while studying at Trinity College, Dublin and who had participated in (and were killed during) the 1798 rebellion of the United Irishmen. However, the song gained widespread popularity and became a favourite of many Irishmen who fought during the United States Civil War and gained even more popularity after World War I. The song is notably associated with organisations that historically had a heavy representation of Irish-Americans, in particular the police and fire departments of New York, Boston and Chicago and those of various other major US metropolitan areas, even after those organisations have ceased to have a substantial over-representation of personnel of Irish ancestry. The melody is frequently played at funerals of members and/or officers of such organisations who have died or been killed in service, typically on bagpipes. Unsurprisingly, given its lyrics, it is also associated with the Irish Army and with traditionally Irish regiments and/or Irish Brigades found in other armies. (A song with similar status is the more recent "Danny Boy".) The text of the original song follows:

The minstrel boy to the war is gone,

In the ranks of death you'll find him;

His father's sword he hath girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him;

"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,

"Tho' all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain

Could not bring that proud soul under;

The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,

For he tore its chords asunder;

And said "No chains shall sully thee,

Thou soul of love and brav'ry!

Thy songs were made for the pure and free

They shall never sound in slavery!

During the American Civil War, a third verse was added.

The minstrel boy will return one day,

When we hear the news, we will cheer it.

The minstrel boy will return we pray,

Torn in body, perhaps, but not in spirit.

Then may he play his harp in peace,

In a world such as Heaven intended,

For every quarrel of Man must cease,

And every battle shall be ended.

References in popular culture

The song's popularity was substantially enhanced in the early 20th century by performances and recordings by John McCormack (1884-1945) a world-famous Irish tenor in the fields of opera and popular music - who performed successfully in many major live venues in the United States and Europe. McCormack was occasionally referred to as the "Minstrel Boy," (or alternately the Irish Minstrel) and this title has been applied to collections of his recordings.

The song (excluding the third verse) is played during the ending credits of the film Black Hawk Down (attributed to Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros). In this movie it is also heard during the evacuation of PFC Blackburn.